News ArchiveMarch 2016

ACF has co-signed a letter coordinated by the Charity Finance Group designed to resist potential moves to introduce charging for Charity Commission registration and services. Due to the short deadline, ACF was unable to consult members on this issue and our decision to sign the letter was based on pre-existing member views articulated in the course of Lord Hodgson’s 2012 review of the Charity Act. If at a future point the Government or Commission bring forward specific proposals for consultation, ACF will of course seek members’ views and feed them into any formal submission.

Matt Hancock, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has unveiled a new clause to be used in all government grant agreements which will ban charities and other organisations from using government grants to influence government and Parliament. The clause will be included in all agreements (determination letters) from the new financial year, and no later than 1 May 2016. ACF has concerns that the clause will stifle charities’ engagement with government about issues affecting their beneficiaries and areas of expertise.